Edgar Allan Poe; Fame Inspired by a Tragic Life

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Recommended: Poe's theme of dying

The 19th century American poet, Edgar Allan Poe, had been plagued by grief from an early age. He was an amazing poet and author who just happened to have a darker story. Many who have studied this prestigious man feel that his works, though magnificent, were extremely dark. Some believe it was nothing more then a fancy for him to spin such gruesome tales. Others feel his work was manipulated by the misfortune of his past. These people have actually found evidence that agrees with this statement. The works of Edgar Allan Poe were inspired by the history and life style of the author. The evidence is evident, when people look back and examine the author, his life, and his writings closely.

WHO IS EDGAR ALLAN POE?

Edgar Allan Poe was a Boston poet who lived from the early to mid 1800's. Some of his more familiar works consist of the poems “The Raven” and “Annabelle Lee”. As for his short stories, “The Fall of the House of Usher” as well as “A Tell-Tale Heart” are common reads for many academically active students. Poe himself, along with his works, are the subjects of many papers each year. It is said that he, “was one of the United States' most original and influential writers”(Poe: A Life Cut Short. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. 2008).

Poe's writings are still used in lesson plans across America. He is well read and extremely popular among all ages. People can't get enough of Edgar Allan Poe. Though, it was not always that way. During the time when Poe was living and writing, he was not taken seriously. He was seen more of a columnist then a serious writer. Though his stories were published within the magazine “Southern Literary Messenger”, it just was not enough to finance he and his wife ("Edgar Allan Poe." LitFinder.

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...mation I need to back up my thesis.

Jones, Karen. "A tell-tale display brings words to life." New York Times 27 Oct. 2013: F10(L). Student Resources in Context. Web. 22 Apr. 2014.

This page gives a detailed summary of “A Tell-Tale Heart,” another of Poe's famous short stories. This creepy tale is explained and given a historical back up to boost it's information. The more of Poe's work I can get my hands on, the more likely I will be able to understand his state of mind when writing.

"Poe: A Life Cut Short." Contemporary Review 290.1691 (2008): 531+. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 24 Apr. 2014.

This is a paper dedicated to and written about Edgar Allan Poe. It shows how short his life was and what others thought about him. When trying to look at how Poe lived and what manipulated his work, it's nice to look at what others thought about the great author.

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